Why You Need to Prune Trees: A Comprehensive Guide to Techniques, Tools, and More

Pruning stands as a fundamental element in arboriculture, the broad study and practice of tree care. The act of carefully eliminating select branches or stems serves several critical purposes, including the promotion of robust growth, the development of a pleasing and balanced tree shape, and the mitigation of potential hazards stemming from weakened or damaged branches.

When you prune a tree correctly, you effectively channel the tree's energy into stronger and more productive growth. By removing branches that are dead, diseased, or overcrowded, you allow the tree to focus its resources on new, healthier growth. Additionally, strategic pruning can help guide the tree's future growth direction, enabling you to shape it according to aesthetic preferences or practical necessities.

A key advantage of regular pruning is hazard prevention. Dead or damaged branches pose a risk as they can easily fall off and cause injury to people or damage to property. Regular inspections and pruning help identify and address these risks in a timely manner, thus ensuring the tree's structural integrity and the surrounding area's safety.

Tree pruning is also important for growing quality timber in tree plantations. Trimming branches from the trunks of trees facilitates the creation of future veneer quality wood, which will be free of knots.

This guide is designed to enlighten and assist both novice and seasoned gardeners in understanding the principles and techniques of tree pruning. It aims to highlight the reasons why regular tree pruning is essential and offers a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to perform this crucial task effectively. From understanding the basic techniques to selecting the right tools for the job, this guide aims to equip you with the knowledge you need to maintain the health and beauty of your trees through thoughtful and precise pruning.

Understanding Tree Anatomy: Node, Internode, Bud, Lateral Branch, Scaffold Branch, Leader Branch, Suckers

Understanding tree anatomy is critical to successful pruning so before undertaking a tree project it is important to identify and learn terms and definitions of the parts of a branch.

Node: The Focal Point of Growth

Nodes are critical points on a tree's stem or branch where leaves, blossoms, or other branches sprout. Acting as the epicenter of new growth, nodes are often swollen areas, or small bumps, on the plant's stem, and serve as the attachment point for these new sprouts. Understanding nodes can help guide where to make your pruning cuts to stimulate the desired growth.

Internode: The Stem's Highway

The internode is the stem section between two nodes, often appearing as the elongated smooth part of the stem. This part plays a significant role in transporting water, nutrients, and sugars between different parts of the tree. It's essentially a conduit that connects the nodes, assisting in the tree's growth and overall health.

Bud: The Promise of Future Growth

Buds are tiny swellings or knobs on the tree stem that hold the potential for new leaves, flowers, or branches. They serve as the origin points for the tree's future growth. Identifying buds on a tree can guide when and where to prune to encourage or discourage certain growth.

Lateral Branch: Contributing to Structure and Form

Lateral branches sprout from the sides of the stem or trunk, helping establish the tree's overall form. These branches are integral to a tree's structure and provide an important role in photosynthesis. Knowing which lateral branches to prune and which to retain is crucial for maintaining the tree's shape and health.

Scaffold Branch: The Tree's Main Framework

Scaffold branches are primary branches that make up the tree's main structure. They radiate from the trunk, providing the foundational architecture of the tree. Maintaining healthy scaffold branches is essential for the tree's structural integrity, so careful thought must be given to their pruning.

Leader Branch: The Tree's Main Trajectory

The leader branch is the central stem or the main driving force of the tree's upward growth. It's essentially the tree's "leader," guiding its direction and dictating its height. In some pruning practices, the leader branch might be trimmed to control the tree's size or to promote the growth of other branches.

Suckers: Unwanted Vigorous Growth

Suckers are fast-growing shoots that spring up from the base of the tree or the roots. They can often be a sign of the tree's stress response to damage, disease, or unfavorable growing conditions. However, in some species, sucker growth is normal. Pruning suckers is typically advised, as they can drain the tree's resources and hinder its overall health and growth.

Different Types of Pruning: Crown Thinning, Crown Raising, Crown Reduction, Dormant Pruning, Corrective Pruning, Pollarding, Coppicing, Espalier, Pleaching, Topiary

There are many different types of pruning, each with its purpose and technique. Crown thinning, for instance, involves removing selected branches to increase light penetration and air movement, while Crown raising involves the removal of lower branches to increase clearance for pedestrians, vehicles, or buildings. Crown reduction, on the other hand, reduces the size of the tree by removing the ends of branches.

Crown Thinning: A Breath of Fresh Air

Crown thinning is a pruning technique primarily employed to allow better light penetration and air movement through the tree's crown. By selectively removing branches, typically at the outer crown, this technique maintains the tree's natural shape. It's especially useful for enhancing the health of shade trees by reducing excess weight and decreasing wind resistance, thus lessening the chances of storm damage.

Crown Raising: Increasing Clearance and Visibility

Crown raising involves the removal of lower branches to provide clearance for pedestrians, vehicles, buildings, or vistas. This pruning method is widely used in urban environments where low-hanging branches might obstruct pathways or views. By elevating the tree's canopy, it improves the tree's integration into its environment without compromising its health.

Crown Reduction: Controlling Size and Shape

Crown reduction pruning is carried out to decrease the size of a tree, often for utility line clearance or to reduce the risk from a potentially dangerous tree. It involves reducing the height or spread of a tree by cutting back the leaders and branch terminals. However, it's crucial to maintain the tree's form and health by making sure cuts are made correctly, minimizing stress on the tree.

Dormant Pruning: The Season of Rest

Dormant pruning is conducted during late winter or early spring when the tree is at rest and before new growth begins. This technique minimizes sap loss and stress on the tree and allows for vigorous growth in the upcoming growing season. It also reduces the risk of disease transmission, as many pathogens are inactive during this time.

Corrective Pruning: Fixing Structural Issues

Corrective pruning is used to rectify issues such as crossed or rubbing branches, water sprouts, and other structural problems that may negatively impact the tree's health and growth. By rectifying these issues early, the tree's overall health, aesthetics, and structural integrity can be significantly improved, reducing potential risks in the future.

Pollarding: Controlled Branching

Pollarding is a pruning technique that involves the removal of the upper branches of a tree, promoting a dense head of foliage and branches. It's often used in urban environments for maintaining trees at a predetermined height. While it can seem drastic, if done correctly, it provides an effective method for controlling tree growth and size.

Coppicing: Promoting New Growth

Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management that involves regularly cutting back trees to ground level or to a low height. This technique encourages the growth of straight shoots from the stump, used for various purposes such as firewood or crafting. Coppicing also promotes biodiversity by allowing more light to reach the woodland floor.

Espalier: Pruning for Space and Productivity

Espalier is a pruning method that trains trees to grow flat against a wall, fence, or trellis. This technique, popular with fruit trees, maximizes space and increases sun exposure, thereby improving fruit yield. It also adds an aesthetic element to the garden or orchard, creating patterns and designs with the tree branches.

Pleaching: Interwoven Beauty

Pleaching involves intertwining the branches of multiple trees to form a sort of living fence or arch. This technique requires a good understanding of tree growth and careful maintenance to ensure the health and structural integrity of the trees. It provides both an aesthetic and practical application in landscape design.

Topiary: The Art of Shaping

Topiary is the art of shaping trees and shrubs into ornamental shapes or characters through careful pruning and training. It's a technique that requires skill and patience but can transform a garden into an artistic landscape. Topiary offers an opportunity to showcase creativity and bring unique aesthetics to a garden or landscape.

Annual Pruning: A Benefit for fruit Bearing Trees

Some trees significantly benefit from annual pruning, an act that can promote better fruit production, growth, and overall health. These trees often have specific growth habits or disease vulnerabilities that can be managed through regular pruning. The practice allows gardeners to shape the tree's growth, enhance its aesthetic appeal, and manage its overall health. Here are five examples of trees that benefit from annual pruning, each with its unique characteristics and pruning needs.

1. Apple Trees (A Fruit Tree Example)

Apple trees are one of the most common fruit trees that benefit immensely from annual pruning. Proper pruning encourages better air circulation, which reduces the risk of disease, and it helps improve sunlight penetration for healthier and more abundant fruit production. It's generally recommended to prune apple trees late in winter to invigorate spring growth.

2. Walnut Trees (A Nut Tree Example)

Walnut trees, specifically the English Walnut trees, thrive with annual pruning. Pruning is usually conducted in late winter or early spring before sap starts to flow. This practice helps control the size of the tree, reduces shading, and can increase nut production. Proper pruning of nut trees also helps in managing pests and diseases which walnuts can be susceptible to.

3. Grape Vines (A Grape Example)

While not technically trees, grapevines greatly benefit from annual pruning, a critical part of their care. This practice helps maintain a balance between the vine's vegetative growth and its fruit production. Pruning is typically performed in late winter when the plant is dormant. It ensures productive growth during the growing season, as grapes fruit on one-year-old wood.

4. Hardy Kiwi (A Kiwi Plant Example)

Hardy kiwi plants, known for their vibrant vines and delicious fruits, require annual pruning to maintain health and boost fruit production. Pruning helps manage the vigorous growth of these vines, improves sunlight exposure, and allows easier harvesting. The best time to prune hardy kiwi trees is late winter or early spring when the plants are still dormant.

5. Citrus Trees (A Citrus Tree Example)

Citrus trees, such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, also benefit from annual pruning. It helps maintain the size of these generally small-to-medium trees, improves air circulation, and sunlight exposure, reducing the risk of pest infestation and disease. Light pruning can be done any time of year, but more significant pruning is best during spring.

The Pruning Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Tree pruning is a precise art and science that requires careful planning and execution. To start, you need to be equipped with the right tools, which include pruning shears, pruning saws, secateurs, and loppers. The following step-by-step guide will walk you through the proper way to use these tools while respecting the tree's natural growth and healing patterns, such as dealing with the branch collar.

Step 1: Using Pruning Shears

Pruning shears are ideal for cutting branches up to 3/4 inches in diameter. They are perfect for thinning out dense growth and getting rid of deadwood. Start by identifying the branch you want to prune. Position the shears so that the cutting blade is closest to the tree, this way, the blunt blade will cause less damage to the bark. Make a clean, swift cut to avoid causing unnecessary stress to the tree.

Step 2: Employing a Pruning Saw

When dealing with larger branches, typically over 1.5 inches in diameter, a pruning saw is your best bet. Use it to cut larger branches that shears or secateurs cannot handle. Always make an undercut first, a third of the way up the branch, to prevent the bark from tearing. Follow up with a second cut from the top, slightly further out on the branch than the undercut. Finally, make a third cut to remove the stub that's left.

Step 3: Mastering Secateurs

Secateurs, also known as hand pruners, are excellent for making precise cuts on smaller branches, usually up to 3/4 inches thick. With a similar process to using pruning shears, place the secateurs on the branch to be pruned, positioning the cutting blade closest to the tree. Then, apply pressure to cut through the branch, ensuring the cut is clean and smooth.

Step 4: Handling Loppers for Larger Branches

Loppers are essentially long-handled pruning shears designed to cut branches up to 2.5 inches in diameter. They offer greater reach and leverage for thicker branches. Using loppers is akin to using pruning shears: identify the branch, position the loppers with the cutting blade nearest the tree, and make a clean, swift cut.

Step 5: Respecting the Branch Collar

The branch collar is the swelling at the base of the branch and plays a crucial role in wound healing when a branch is removed. It's vital not to damage the branch collar when pruning, as it contains cells that help the tree heal. Always cut just outside the branch collar, at a downward angle away from the tree, regardless of the tool used. This preserves the collar and promotes quicker healing of the pruning wound.

Dealing with Deadwood and Enhancing Aesthetics Through Tree Shaping

A fundamental aspect of pruning includes addressing deadwood and refining the tree's appearance through shaping. Deadwood, aside from creating an unattractive look, poses a potential hazard. It might break off, causing injury or damage, and it could become a breeding ground for pests and disease-causing organisms.

The process of deadwood management begins with identification. Deadwood can typically be recognized by its dry, fragile nature and often exhibits a discolored appearance compared to healthy branches. Once the deadwood has been identified, the next step involves carefully removing it. In this step, it is essential to ensure that the removal process doesn't inflict additional harm to the tree.

On the other side of pruning, we have tree shaping, which intertwines elements of both art and science. This procedure involves directing the tree's growth to realize a specific form or pattern. This could range from simply preserving the tree's natural shape to more elaborate designs such as sophisticated topiaries.

Tree shaping calls for a combination of patience, foresight, and a deep understanding of the tree's growth patterns and responses to pruning. It's a skill that takes time to hone, but with practice and determination, you can create truly spectacular and unique tree forms that become a focal point of any landscape.

The Function of Pruning Sealant in Tree Care

Pruning sealant, often referred to as wound dressing, is a product that is traditionally used to cover pruning cuts with the intention of warding off diseases and decay. However, its application in tree care remains a contentious issue among professionals.

Scientific studies indicate that while pruning sealant can aid in minimizing water loss, it doesn't necessarily expedite the process of wound closure or ward off diseases. On the contrary, it can sometimes retain moisture within the cut, thereby fostering an environment conducive to the growth of decay-inducing organisms.

As a general guideline, trees that are pruned correctly and are in good health usually don't require the use of a pruning sealant. Trees have natural defense mechanisms that are typically adequate to protect the wound and facilitate healing. Nevertheless, there might be certain circumstances, like when dealing with trees that are particularly susceptible to specific diseases, where the utilization of a pruning sealant could be considered beneficial.

The Long-Term Benefits of Pruning

Pruning is more than just a chore. It's an investment in the long-term health, productivity, and beauty of your trees. The time and effort you put into pruning will pay off in numerous ways.

Healthy trees are less susceptible to disease and pests, which means less time and money spent on treatments. Productive trees yield more fruit or nuts, enhancing your garden's bounty. Beautiful trees add value to your property and make your outdoor spaces more enjoyable.

Article posted, Dec 22